Podcast overview
In this week’s episode, Cara Lunsford sits down with Dorrie K. Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN, to discuss the Carlyle Group’s $1 billion initiative led by Bill Conway to address the nursing shortage and transform the profession. This remarkable investment aims to empower nurses and strengthen the healthcare system. Dorrie reflects on her inspiring journey in nursing, underscoring the importance of fostering healthy work environments and prioritizing mindfulness and self-care in nursing education. Their conversation highlights the critical need for sustainable solutions to support nurses and ensure a compassionate, resilient workforce for the future of healthcare.
Dorrie K. Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN, is Dean Emerita of the University of Virginia School of Nursing and a former critical care nurse with over four decades of experience. A past president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, she is a champion for healthy work environments and the founder of UVA’s Compassionate Care Initiative, promoting resilience and wellbeing in healthcare. She has authored multiple books on self-care, including the second edition of *Self-Care for New and Student Nurses*. Dorrie now works with the Bedford Falls Foundation, supporting scholarships to address the nursing shortage. She resides in Charlottesville, VA, with her husband.
Key Takeaways
- 00:02:25: Dorrie Fontaine discusses her role in helping Bill Conway give away $1 billion to nurses, highlighting the mission and the small team working on this initiative.
- 00:04:19: Dorrie shares her career journey, emphasizing her dedication to creating healthy work environments for nurses and her involvement with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
- 00:06:12: Introduction to mindfulness and compassionate care initiatives at the University of Virginia, including retreats for students to reflect on their careers and alleviate suffering.
- 00:22:25: Discussion about the Bedford Falls Foundation, its origins, and its mission to fund nursing education and combat the nursing shortage by providing financial aid to nursing students.
- 00:30:25: Emphasis on the importance of hospital systems being practice-ready and supportive environments for new nurses, rather than solely focusing on the readiness of the nurses themselves.
- 00:36:32: Cara Lunsford talks about the partnership with Top Workplaces to create a co-branded nurse dot com top workplace logo, focusing on questions that assess the ability to provide safe patient care and workplace conditions.
